ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 20

ROWING

By 'strcki.1

EIGHT-OARED BOATS

SEVERAL EN ROUTE

THE REGATTA PROGRAMME,

Oarsmen will bo interested to know that eight of tho thirteen eight-oared boats that an being built for New Zealand are now on their way, and should arrive next month. Tho boats that have been shipped are for Auckland, Wellington Christehurch, and Duncdin, two boats for each cent vo. Mr. A. D. Bayf eild, honorary secretary of tho Now Zealand Amateur Bowing Association, has received advice that tho remaining eights for Wanganui and Marlborough are to bo shipped by the lonic, which is to leave England on 31st December for New Zealand. The other eight-oar-ed boat, tho thirteenth, is a special eight which is being built for the New Zealand Eowing Council, and will be used for overseas contest's.

Tho receipt of this message indicates that the eights will arrive much earlier than was anticipated, and the possibility is that in at least some of the centres thore will be oight-oared rowing before the season concludes. Wellington was not expecting the two boats till the end of February or thereabouts, and it had been arranged that they should be stored in their sections in the Star Club's sheds, Jervois quay, till next season, when ample housing would be available for them. Although the early arrival of the boats will enable them to be used fhis season, it seems that as far as Wellington is concerned they will have to be kept in their sections till arrangements have been made for proper housing. Since the Jervois Quay Wharf was extended in front of the Star and AVellington sheds it has hampered the movements and launching of skiffs considerably, and the position •njw is that it is difficult to launch an eight from the skids of either of these two clubs. The Boat Harbour has been suggested as a suitable place for tho storage of the boats, but the craft would bo endangered in manoeuvring tho narrow entrance, quite apart from the fact that the Boat Harbour is cramped now. The only other place handy to tie city that seems, suitable for the housing of the boats appears to be in the vicinity of Kaiwarra, where a shed might be built, but the isolation of the position does not commend itself. It is desirable that the boats should be kept somewhere where they could be carefully watched. .Evans Bay has also been suggested aa a suitable locality, but here experience has shown that the prevailing winds would restrict the length of the rows to a little more than a mile, which would not be suitable as far as training in eights is concerned. After taking all these circumstances into consideration, it seems that both the boats will have to be housed at Petone, where conditions are ideal for the launching of an eight. This, of course, will not be very favourable to city crews, but it seems to be the only thing possible at present. There is an alternative, and that is the building of a pontoon in front of the skids of the Star and Wellington sheds, but this would be too big a financial hurdle for the Wellington Eowing Association at present. The Victorian Invitation. So far, no word has been received from Australia in roply to New Zealand's invitation to a Victorian crew to Visit the Dominion this season. It is somo time now since the invitation was issued, but no roply has been received from Victoria as to whether the invitation has been accepted or not. With a view to giving the visitors an opportunity of trying themselves out before they participate in the championship regatta, the Wanganui regatta has been arranged for sth March and the Wellington regatta for 12th March. The following week the championship regatta is to be held at Picton, on 19th March. By the adoption of this programme the visitors would be enabled to get a good idea of the strength of some of the strongest New Zealand crews before they met them at the championship fixture, although it is doubtful whether they would have an opportunity of meeting the champion crew before the Picton regatta. Although no definite advice has been received here at time of writing, arrangements in the rowing world are being made on the assumption that the Victorians are coming. The Picton Regatta. The Wellington and Star Clubs have been more fortunate than usual as far as weather is concerned this season, as their training has not been interrupted as much as usual. The three local clubs will be represented at the Pieton regatta to be held on New Year's Day, and this fixture will give the club an opportunity of being tried out before the more important events of the season are held. The Barry Family. Albert Barry, who is coming to Australia to row for the sculling championship of the world, has deposited a cheque for £250 for a match with Major Goodsell. The Barry family has been famous in rowing circles for many years. W. A. (Bill) Barry won the Doggett's Coat and Badge in 1891, and seven yeaTs later he defeated George Towns, the Australian, for the English championship. Ernie Barry, five times world's champion, is naturally the most notable of the Barry family, and his nephew, "Bert," bids fair to uphold the family prestige. His successes include the Doggett's'Coat and Badge (1925) and the Putney and Kingston Coat and Badge races in 1920 and 1921 respectively.

Great enthusiasm is being shown in all the sheds, and competition will be keen among the various crews at the coming regatta (says the Dunedin "Star"). The water has been favourable on most occasions recently, allowing a great deal of training to be carried out. There seems no doubt that the recent victorious visit of the Otago champion four to Australia has given the sport a decided impetus in the harbour, this being evidenced by the increased enthusiasm and consistent training in all the clubs.

Usually crews participating at the Now Year regatta at Picton make a "week of it," and leave Wellington just before Christmas for camping grounds in the Sounds, which they make a base for the finishing of their training. Sometimes they take with them pleasure craft as well as the skiffs. This year, however, the practice does not seem to have had the appeal of former years, and the majority of the crews are leaving Wellington on New Year's Eve.

Tho recont whaloboat races instituted by the Star Club for days when tho water is too rough for skiffs, have proved a great success, and besides giving the members something to do, hel]j to ? k€C£> regatta crews in condition,